Happy Harvest or Halloween!

In the last three days we have experience much "dress up" in our lives with events at school, preschool, church...etc. So, take a peak...we've had some fun!

Who says sugar and spice and everything nice? This little "Sugar" is not feeling too sweet at the moment:O)


So, the sugar outfit didn't last long...good thing we had a Snow White outfit as back up.


On to dress up at church...one Ninja, one Queen Esther, and one guy who called himself an unemployed inventor? If you saw all the objects he had ducktaped to himself...you sort of got it...well...kinda.

Bush Man Get a Buzz!!

So, basketball try outs start Monday and E-man was tired of the mop bouncing up and down while he ran. Today was the big buzz! The following sequence of shots are to illustrate how long the mop had gotten. I guess I needed a before and after pic...but I love the one of Ess' hands holding the prize shearings. She very diligently would take E-man's shears of hair out to the lawn for the birdies. She would say "num nums" meaning that it was food for the birds. Either way Ev is ready with the low maintenance hair for Monday:O)

One buzz down the middle and left long on the sides...kind of a reverse mohawk of sorts?


A close up of the noggen...not finished yet.


The long lucious locks before Ess spreads them out for nesting material!!

A Special Day for Robert

This special day comes once per year,
To bless the one you love so dear
Thankfulness for his life and worth,
And gratitude to the Father for his birth!!
We love you Robert!

Fall Activities

It is nice to know that even on the other side of the world some things don't change. Harvest and fall just go together. This little guys is very fortunate in that people often sponsor his preschool for different field trips. This one was to an orchard.


Our next set of paperwork has been turned in. We now wait as three major steps happen with this paperwork before it is sent over seas for final approval. Waiting is something none of us are good at, I think. It is an act of patience and trust in something we can't control. I am very thankful the Lord has placed this little guy in such loving hands while we wait.

Highlights of last couple of games

So, the victory numbers have not been high for the home football team, but there has been individual growth. The team has been plauged with some crutial injuries, but that has given our favorite player more opportunity to grow. He has averaged the last couple games with 5 receptions and about 39 yards per game. He really has great hands...and in this mom's opinion has been a very consistent "go to" guy! The season is winding down and so is the nice weather...but I have enjoyed watching my son give his all both ways, hearing his name announced as he represents his team, and watching these young men face teams with much greater experience, but doing it with integrity!

The team bursting through their banner at their last home game!


#7 making the catch and then juking some players out to get a couple extra yards and then the 1st down!!


In an earlier game, #7 making the catch and then driving those legs hard before being brought down.

The Countdown Begins...

After waiting a long time for paperwork, background checks, more paperwork, fingerprints, more paperwork etc...we have been given "preapproval" to proceed to the next step. We now have 12 weeks to complete 3 certifying steps to all official paperwork and then get it translated. We had to reorder some of the paperwork because it is now too old...so it will probably take the whole 12 weeks. That being said...the paperwork is just part of the journey.

The pr@yer and preparing hearts is another part that we would ask you to join us in. There are many emotional aspects that comprise the ad&pti@n process. Unity of hearts across the miles is one we would appreciate.

This is a 3 year old party where this young man attends preschool. His place where he resides makes sure every child has a special day and a present to open. Happy Birthday buddy!

What is E-man up to?

Since I have not written about Evan for a bit...here is his update. He is currently running cross country and is in his final year of middle school...hard for me to believe. He is growing his hair out, is reading books like crazy, and just improved his 2 mile time by over 1 minute. The pics that follow are of an event held this weekend in our fair cities celebrating the landing of two very famous explorers. Evan is part of a group called, Frontier Christian Fellowship, where they earn a name by passing certain events set up in frontier times. They learn how people lived in frontier times and start to become skilled in one of the trades of the times. Sous Chef Evan, of course, chose cooking!! So, over the past 3 days, he has been cooking over an open fire and tending coals and making brownies in a pan for visitors who come by his booth. The recipe he is using is from 1835...no eggs or milk required:O) Go Evan!

Here is Evan and his buddy J. after a long day manning their booths. J. got to work at the blacksmith booth. Evan and J. are sleeping in a tent only 80 feet from where these two famous explorers landed.


Evan donning his frontier's man shirt, beads, and neck collar earned in trading at an event last year. He also is holding his "mouse axe", given to him by the man who sponsored him during his "orienteering week" and "name earning ceremony". The mouse axe was used to hide up one's sleeve in case it might be needed. And here I thought "they cut off their tails with a carving knife."


Here is E-man heading into the home stretch at his first meet. I was so excited that I took the picture too quick on sport rapid fire setting...taking two of the three shots of just grass...and by the time I could set it again he was gone. Ah well!